Combination hat conformator, stretcher, &amp;c.



n. 703,442'. l Patented' lulyl, |902.

s. Munn.

COMBINATION HAT CONFORMATUR, 8TBETCHER, &.c'.

(Application med oet. sus, 1901i) am Model.)

UNITED e STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL MUND, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO MAMIE E. MUND.

COMBINATION HAT CONFORMATOR, STRETCHER, Bao.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,442, datedvJuly 1, 1902.

' Application mea october 25,1901. semina 79,955. (No model.)

To all whom it mrtg/concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL MUNI), a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Joseph, Buchanan county,Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulOornbination Hat Oonformator, Stretcher, yand Size-Measure, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to conform hats to the shape of the-head, to adjust hats to the size of the head, and to measure hats from number six and ve-eighths to the largest hat made.

Referring to the drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a diagram of the completed device looking at it from the top. Fig. 2 is a transverse section. Fig. 3 is a sectionalvdetail. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the racks and gear. Fig. 5 is a plan of the racks. Fig. 6 is a detail, and Fig. 7 a side elevation.

The rim or stretcher comprises six sections K, which'abut against each otherrwhen contracted, but are not connected.

A B and O represent six bars similar to each other. Eachbar is attached at the outer end to a section or subdivision of the rim or block A and extends through and beyond the center of the device, and for a suitable distance on the inner side each bar is cogged. It will be observedthat the bars `are arranged in` pairs and that each, member of each pair works freely upon each other member and the racks engage a cog-wheel 13', the center one bar on each sidether'eoL/ as shown in Fig. 5. In this connection we may refer to Fig.,4, which shows the jcenter gear-Wheels and the teeth on the bars. By turning the crank or key F. the wheels below are turned. These working in the racks on the bars increase or decrease the circumference of the device,thus

stretching or relaxing the hat., The purpose of the two gears working upon the same axis may be explained as follows: The top wheel iits into the pair of bars that extend to the sides of the device. lThis wheel fits loosely upon the axis, but may be made firm by the insertion o f akey-at the groove shown at letter M in Fig. 6. When thekey is tted in the groove, all the bars respond to the lever and the hat is stretched evenly all around. When the key is removed,only the bars extending to the front and back of the hat respond. By

this arrangement a hat may be made to fit a long or a wide head.

Fig. 6 represents the plate which covers the gear and connections in the center. One of these plates is placed above and another below the wheel, and they are bolted together by the boltsl in such a manner that they may be easily removed and the whole device taken to pieces. v

Letterv Gr (shown at Figs. l, 3, and 7) is a small detached convex metal piece which iits the outer rim or block and may be placed at any position on the rim for .the purpose of conforming the hat to irregular-shaped heads.

ct, as shown at'Fig. 1, is the inside or size ring. This ring, as shown'by the drawings, is open and laps atthe right side of the device. Upon this ring is indicated every size from a six and fve-eighths hat to the largest hat made. As the hat is extended the ring expands, and where the two ends lap indicates the proper size,`sothat, the size having been ascertained, the hat maybe increased to that size Without removingthe device.

In the Very center of thevdev'ice, as shown in Figil', is a small notched wheel, with a key which lfits into the notches. This enables the operatorito retain the, advantage gained by turningthe crarlkor, key.

Havingnow described xny invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l g l. A hat-stretching deviceeornprising a ring composed of a plurality, (af-independent sectionsneans for adjusting the sections radially, and convexpads securedto the outer periphery of said sections, substantially as described.

2. A hat-stretching-device comprising a ring composed of a plurality-of independent sections, a rack-bar connectedto each section, said rack-bars beingv arranged in pairs extending across the center of the ring with the membersof eachpair slidably connected together, a gear-wheel between each pair of SAMUEL MUND. l

Witnesses: y

GEORGE W. EAsTIN,

LUoIAN J. EAsTIN. 

